Henry Wadsworth Longfellow A Psalm Of Life - 1508 Words

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: A Psalm of Life Biographical Information Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born to parents Stephen and Zilpah Wadsworth Longfellow on February 27th, 1807. Born to an established family in Portland, Maine, his father as a successful lawyer and politician, but also a trustee of Bowdoin College in Maine, and he sent Henry there at age 15. In the liberal arts college, Longfellow published poems and essays and fell in love with poetry. His passion was encouraged by his mother, an intelligent lover of literature and culture. Henry Longfellow was a brilliant student in school and graduated in 1825, then choosing to study abroad for three years in Europe where he studied language and became entranced by Old World†¦show more content†¦Longfellow was a successful writer during and after his death. The topics of Longfellow’s poem varied vastly, writing about slavery, American Indians, poetry of other countries, and writing ballads and epic poems, but with the general trend of American history. (bio) Longfellow received m any awards throughout his life, being admired by Queen Victoria, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Prime Minister William Gladstone, Walt Whitman and Oscar Wilde among others. (biography.org) â€Å"Longfellow was awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Oxford and Cambridge universities, and after his death was the first American to be included in Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey in London†. Poem Analysis The poem below expresses the optimism of a young man in defiance to the traditional ways of the old man. Longfellow wants the reader to be inspired to live each day to the fullest, and leave a positive mark on the world so that another can be inspired in the same way. In â€Å"A Psalm of Life†, Longfellow’s use of metaphors and tone work in harmony to reveal the theme that one should not waste life, but strive for excellence. A Psalm of Life By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist. Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real!Show MoreRelatedHenry Wadsworth Longfellows Optimism in Poetry Essay714 Words   |  3 Pagessaying Longfellow read in Germany where his wife died. The words gave him hope for the future. It inspired him to want to write a series of psalms. The first one, â€Å"A Psalm of Life† written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is an uplifting poem that compels us to feel hope for the future. After reading it the first time it had a powerful effect on me. Surprisingly, he wrote this poem few months after his first wife died. Longfellow took his wife’s death and interpreted it as a sign to look at life as fleetingRead More An Analysis Of The Indomitable Spirit Of Man In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow1686 Words   |  7 Pages Henry Ford, the automobile magnate, once stated that the quot;world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward† (Daily Quotations Network). Man has always strug gled with uncontrollable aspects of his environment, but his ability to overcome these seemingly indomitable obstacles has earned recognition from numerous classical writers and poets, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. â€Å"One of the real American PoetsRead MoreDo Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night And Psalms Of Life Analysis713 Words   |  3 Pagesmeaningful things in one’s life, without directly having to state what you’re trying to say some of the times. A lot of poets write about events within their lives as well as things in everyday life in the lives of everyone in the world. The poems â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night† by Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) and â€Å"Psalm of Life† by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) both use great diction and varying tone in their poems to portray their individual perspectives about life. In the poems â€Å"Do NotRead MoreHenry Wadsworth Longfellow1100 Words   |  5 Pagesand Mission of Life What is the meaning of life? Probably one of the biggest questions in human history, yet people still have not come up with one solid answer. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow expresses his beliefs of people’s purpose in life by writing about his own experiences and how he has allowed them to shape him and his writing. Through Longfellow’s poem A Psalm of Life, the emphasis on living life to the fullest is accentuated through his beliefs of being courageous and living life for the sakeRead MoreHenry Wadsworth Longfellow: The Great Honored and Criticized Poet911 Words   |  4 PagesHenry Wadsworth Longfellow was a successful pet in his lifetime. In his childhood, he was so intelligent that he entered Bowdoin College at the age of fifteen. He worked at Bowdoin College and Harvard College for 19 years due to his eyesight. In addition, his work sold million copies. At his later time, his birthday became a national holiday, and he was the first man who was honored by Britain soci ety. Despite these glories, he suffered from the death of his two wives, Mary Storer Potter and FrancesRead MoreThe Fireside Poets Were Popular At A Time When The United States1382 Words   |  6 PagesPark and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (William Cullen Bryant), and even founding a political party and running for Congress (John Greenleaf Whittier). The lead-up to the Civil War was also weighing on the minds of many, which prompted Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to write â€Å"Paul Revere’s Ride†, an encouragement to a young country facing a serious conflict. Far from being merely a lyrical voice in a time of upheaval, these poets expressed passion for their causes in a way that was meant to involveRead MoreLongfellow- Writing Incorporates Religion1470 Words   |  6 Pages Henry Wadsworth Longfellow incorporates religious themes into his poetical work. His religious beliefs were in favor of his Christian faith, unlike others who found all the negative aspects of Ca tholicism. His poetical works such as Christus, The Divine Tragedy and The Bells of San Blas show his positivity toward the Catholic church. In Longfellow s life, he went through periods of depression as a reaction to his wives deaths. During these times of sorrow, Longfellow turned to his faithRead MoreCarpe Diem879 Words   |  4 PagesMuch of Time† by Robert Herrick and â€Å"A Psalm of Life†, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, conveys, through a persona, a matured perspective of Carpe Diem. Both poets communicate their individual opinion, Longfellow’s 19th century poem discusses the importance of creating a legacy and leaving an impact on time, whereas Herrick’s 17th century cavalier style poem implies the significance of retaining the prime years of your life, and portrays the brevity of the life cycle. These main aspects of Carpe DiemRead MoreHenry Wadsworth Longfellow s Poetry Of The Nineteenth Century1857 Words   |  8 PagesHenry Wadsworth Longfe llow epitomized poetry of the nineteenth century, yet remained living, breathing figure through the aisles of history with his work. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine—then still part of Massachusetts—on February 27, 1807, the second son in a family of eight children. His mother, Zilpah Wadsworth, found herself the daughter of a Revolutionary War hero. His father, Stephen Longfellow, served a prominent Portland lawyer and later a member of Congress.HenryRead MorePoetry Analysis of â€Å"The Psalm of Life† During our lifetime we are taught to live a life of500 Words   |  2 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"The Psalm of Life† During our lifetime we are taught to live a life of pleasure and gratification. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s â€Å"The Psalm of Life† teaches us otherwise. This highly distinguished poem is about the essence of life, the importance of leading a life where time is not wasted, where you have goals your willing to achieve with patience and virtue, and to be a hero in the midst of mayhem. Longfellow expresses his ideas of the importance of living a fulfilled life using rhetorical